Rotary harrow



J. R. HICKS.

ROTARY HARROW.

(No Model.)

No. 407,658. Patented Julyzs, 1889.

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JAMES R. HICKS, OF 'KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ROTARY HAnRow.4

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,658, dated July 23,1889.Y Application filed-September 28, 1,888. Serial No. 286,640. (Nomodel.)

To all whom t may concern.'

Be itknown that I, JAMES R. HICKS, ofV -Kansas City, Jackson county,Missouri, have View of a harrow embodying` my improvement. Fig. 2represents a top plan view of the portion of a harrow-frame to which myimprovement is applied, the preferred form` being shown. Fig.'3 is aside elevation of the central portion of a revolving harrowframe, partlyin section, illustrating the interior construction of the preferred formof anti-friction bearing. Figs. 4 and 5-are side elevations of amodified form of the device, some portions being shown in section.

My present improvement in center bearin gs for revolving harrows isadaptable to many forlns of such an implement, either single, duplex, orin connected series of revolving frames. The preferred form for itsutilization is shown as embodying the .salient features of my patent,No. 369,600, dated September 6, 1887. A brief description of the plan ofconstruction of this harrow will be given to render 'clear the operationof such parts as constitute the subject of my present invention,reference being specifically made tothe annexed drawings, that havealready been mentioned.

The harrow shown complete in Fig. l consists, essentially, of tworevoluble frames A,

` and as the construction of these is similar a description of one willsuffice for both.

The frames are preferably made circular, and for the purpose of savingmaterial are each composed of a iiat ring C, that is superimposed uponthe arms c, which radiate from a central hub-plate G. (See Fig. S for anenlarged view of the paris.) The hub-plate G is a circular metallic diskhaving a central perforation for thereception of Vthe vertical king-bolto, and concentric therewith an integral vertical annular flange g isformed on the top surface of the plate G. The space B intervening'.between4 the flange g and the king-bolt Z1 when the latter is inposition is such as to y permit the insertion of a series of truespherical balls B, that are preferably made of metal hard enough towithstand wear. On the upper surface of the flangeug a cap-plate Eismounted and secured by the bolts 7s, said bolts being inserted throughproper-sized perforations made at spaced intervals in the cap-plateE andhub-plate G oppositely, the bolts corresponding in number to that of theradial arms c, through which theyare inserted and serve to hold inplace.

As will be seen in Fig. 2, the radial arms c have their inner endsmitered on the edges to permit these edges to have bearing contact, andthe series of arms to mutually brace and support each other laterally,the bolts 7c passing through each" arm at a suitable distance from theirinner ends, which ends abut against the outer surface of the flange g,as shown.

In Figs. el and 5 there is a form of antifriction bearing for theking-bolt shown, in which rollers B are employed in lieu of the ballspreviously described. These rollers occupy the annular channel B', andare of such relative length and diameter that when the space iscompletely filled with the rollers the king-bolt b will be afforded arolling support that is the equivalent of the ball-bearing shown inFigs. 2 and 3, the cap-plate E holding the rollers from verticaldisplacement in like manner.v

Each of the arms c is provided with a suitable number of depending teethd, as shown in Fig. l.

In order to support the harrow-frames `C and adapt them to rotate andpulverize the soil over which the harrow is drawn, the draftframe D isprovided. This is mounted on clevis-arms g', that are secured to projectforwardly from the ends of the frame and at right angles to the same.Both the clevisarms g and the draft-frame D are vertically perforated toengage the king-bolts b, the nuts IOO on which bolts bear on the uppersurface of the frame D to hold the parts intact and permit thebarrow-frames A to rotate freely.

On the draft-frame D the drivers seat i is mounted at about the centerof saidv frame, and the bracketframes, which support the vertical screwsh, are aflixed rigidly to the top face of said draft-frame on each sideof the seat, so that the hand-wheels on the up-A per ends of the screwsh will be conveniently located to be manually operated by the driverwhen the harrcw is in motion; h terminate below the frame D inbifurcated ends m, which are adapted to support theV pressure-Wheels fon journal-bolts inserted through perforations made in these forkedportions of the screws h.

The purposes for which the pressure-wheels f are provided have beenfully detailed in my Patent No. 369,600, and as they do not constitute anecessary portion of my present invention, I will not further considerthem. A foot-rest e, as will be seen in Fig. l, is oonveniently locatedin front of the drivers seat. The arms g are intended to receiveclevislinks for the attachment of a pair of horses or otherdraft-animals, said arms extending a proper distance in advance of therotating barrow-fram es to avoid contact of the animals therewith.

It is evident from the foregoing description of parts that theharrow-frames will rotate with greatly-diminished frictional resistanceThe screwsY at their center of motion, and that lubrication of theworking parts where contactis had with the king-bolts b may be dispensedwith. From the great reduction in friction of the working part-s animportant saving in draft force is effected and the durability of themachine largely increased.

I am aware that anti-friction devices-such as balls and rollers-havebeen used in rotary harrows and in bearings of various kinds, and I donot desire to claim such an invention broadly.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim'as new, and desire t0secure by Letters Paten t, is

- In a rotary harrow, the combination, With two similar harroW-frames AA, that are circular and each composed of a central hubplate G, havingupright iange g, cap-plate E, bolts la, and spaced arms o, of king-boltsb, located in central perforations of said plates G and E, and two setsof anti-friction rolling devices that are loosely held between and incontact with the king-bolts and the upright flanges of said hub-plates,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. HICKS.

Witnesses:

F. G. FISCHER, F. C. FARR.

